GCSE Results: The Petchey Academy

The atmosphere was electric at The Petchey Academy as shouts of delight from students who were celebrating their GCSE results filled the corridors.

Top achievers included 16-year-old Nicole Beckford, 16, who scored two A*s, seven As and a C.

Nicole said: “I am ecstatic. I truly believe in the academy’s motto ‘If I think I can..I can’ and I will apply it for the rest of my life. I believe in perseverance and I think everyone should to everything within their power to achieve their gols because if you worked hard enough then you can never be disappointed with the results.”

She has chosen to read geography, philosophy and chemistry for A level with the hope of becoming a geologist.

Equally pleased was Simba Gunde, 16, who achieved one A*, four As, three Bs and two Cs.

She said was glad that all the hard work and days in the library paid off.

Simba will go on to study biology, chemistry, sociology and history and wants to eventually become a midwife.

Describing her feelings when opening her results as “overwhelming”, Victoria Ayodeji, 16, said she was pleased with her five A*s and six As.

She said: “I know it sounds cliché but the hard work did pay off.”

Victoria has been inspired by a recent trip to Hungary to meet a youth group and trade stories about being a young person, organised by Young Hackney.

She said: “You don’t realise how beautiful the world is until you actually go and see it.”

Principal of the academy, in Shacklewell Lane, Olivia Cole, said: “We are just really excited by the progress that our students have made – it is significantly above the national rate. They faced challenging exams and have been successful.

“I am thrilled. They are such a great year and it is really lovely to see them all so happy.”